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Choveret.Pdf "לבלתי ידח ממנו נידח" )ש"ב י"ד – י"ז( Marzo 2014 / Adar Sheiní 5774 Queridos amigos, Shavei Israel tiene el agrado de presentarles esta guía en español para purim. La misma, es parte de nuestros continuos esfuerzos por asistir a los Bnei anusim (a los cuales los historiadores se refieren con el término peyorativo de “Marranos”) y ayudarlos a reconectarse con sus raíces. Purim conmemora la salvación del pueblo judío de manos de sus antiguos enemigos persas, y es una de las fechas más alegres del calendario judío. En el centro de la historia de purim se encuentra la figura de la reina Ester, la cual fue forzada a ocultar su identidad judía y llevada contra su voluntad a vivir en el palacio real. Sin embargo, a pesar de las difíciles circunstancias, Ester se mantuvo leal a su pueblo y eventualmente sirvió como un agente de salvación para el mismo. En este sentido, purim toma un significado adicional para nuestros hermanos, los Bnei Anusim, cuyos ancestros fueron obligados a esconder su identidad judía, luego de ser forzados a convertirse al catolicismo en los siglos XIV y XV. A pesar de todo, así como la reina Ester, los Bnei Anusim continuaron adhiriéndose a su identidad judía, arriesgando sus vidas para asegurar que el judaismo siga manteníendose. En los últimos años, un número cada vez mayor de Bnei Anusim, ha comenzado a reclamar sus raíces. Nosotros creemos que es nuestra responsabilidad ayudarlos a retornar al pueblo judío. Es nuestro deseo que este libro permita a los Bnei Anusim celebrar purim con alegría así como profundizar su conocimiento en nuestra preciosa herencia. Y rezamos que reciban fuerza e inspiración de la historia de Ester y Mordejai, cuyo espíritu y heroismo se destacan a lo largo de los siglos. Bendiciones desde la ciudad santa de Jerusalem. Atentamente, Michael Freund Director, Shavei Israel "לבלתי ידח ממנו נידח" )ש"ב י"ד – י"ז( March 2014 / Adar Sheni 5774 Dear Friends, Shavei Israel is pleased to present this guide to Purim in Spanish, which is part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to Bnei Anousim (whom historians refer to by the derogatory term “Marranos”) and assist them as they reconnect with their roots. Purim marks the deliverance of the Jewish people from the hands of their enemies in ancient Persia, and it is one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar. At the center of the Purim story stands the figure of Queen Esther, who was forced to conceal her Jewish identity when taken against her will to live in the royal palace. Nonetheless, even in the direst of circumstances, Esther remained faithful to her people and eventually served as an agent of their salvation. In this sense, Purim takes on added meaning for our brethren the Bnei Anousim, whose ancestors were compelled to hide their Jewish identity after being forcibly converted to Catholicism in the 14th and 15th centuries. Nonetheless, like Queen Esther, they continued to cling to their Jewish identity, risking their lives in order to ensure that Judaism would continue to live on. In recent years, a growing number of Bnei Anousim have sought to reclaim their Jewish roots. We believe it is our responsibility to assist them with their return to the Jewish people. It is our hope that this book will enable the Bnei Anousim to celebrate Purim with joy, as well as deepen their knowledge of our precious heritage. And we pray that they will draw strength and inspiration from the story of Esther and Mordechai, whose spirit and heroism stand out across the ages. With blessings from the Holy City of Jerusalem, Sincerely, Michael Freund Chairman, Shavei Israel ¿Dónde está la tumba de Mordejai y Ester? Por Michael Freund Hace unos meses, en un movimiento que pasó prácticamente desapercibido, el hostil gobierno de Irán anexó en forma inusual, un sitio sagrado judío a la lista de patrimonio nacional. El 9 de diciembre del 2008, las agencias de noticias iraníes reportaron que la tumba de Mordejai y Ester, héroes de la saga de Purim, estarían ahora bajo la protección y responsabilidad del gobierno oficial. Las noticias mostraron brevemente el sitio, el cual es muy conocido para los judíos iraníes pero no tanto para aquellos que se encuentran fuera del país. Y como purim se acerca, vale la pena tomarse unos minutos para reflexionar sobre lo que esta reliquia representa para nuestro pasado. El mausoleo de Mordejai y Ester consiste de una simple estructura coronada por una cúpula la cual fue construida entre hace cinco y siete siglos sobre las tumbas mismas. Se encuentra en la ciudad noroccidental de Hamadán, la cual está a unos 335 kilómetros de la capital Teherán. De acuerdo a la tradición, Hamadán es el sitio en donde se encontraba la ciudad de Shushán, la cual tuvo un rol central en los ¿Dónde está la tumba de Mordejai y Ester? eventos descriptos en el libro de Ester. Varios viajeros a lo largo de los años tomaron nota acerca del sitio, cuando el primero de ellos fue Benjamín de Tudela, el famoso explorador judío del siglo XII. Los judíos iraníes comenzaron a reverenciar el sepulcro, y muchos comenzaron a viajar a Hamadán para pasar purim allí, leyendo la meguilá en la tumba. Otros realizaban celebraciones familiares, tales como bar mitzvá, circuncisión, y demás. La entrada al sitio, según lo dicho, fue construida intencionalmente de baja altura, para así obligar a los visitantes a bajar la cabeza en el momento en que ingresaban, mostrando así respeto. Dentro del hall principal, el cual se encuentra adornado con inscripciones en hebreo, yacen dos largas cajas de madera decoradas, o troncos, bajo los cuales es dicho que se encuentra el lugar de descanso de Mordejai y Ester. Una pequeña sinagoga se encuentra adjunta a la tumba, y el sitio es considerado sagrado para musulmanes y cristianos, quienes también vienen a rezar allí. Al lado del mausoleo hay un gran hoyo en la tierra, los cuales los judíos iraníes creen que es la entrada a un ¿Dónde está la tumba de Mordejai y Ester? túnel que llega hasta Jerusalem. Interesantemente, existe otra tradición, la cual identifica el lugar tradicional de entierro de la reina Esther y Mordejai como lugar ubicado en el pueblo de Baram, en la alta Galilea, cerca de Safed. En 1215, Rabi Menajem Hajevroní escribió que durante su visita a Galilea, pasó por la tumba de la reina Ester, “quien, durante su vida, le dijo a su hijo Cyrus que la entierre allí”. Otros peregrinos, en años posteriores, mencionan dichos sitios, y las celebraciones especiales que tenían allí durante Shushán Purim. Actualmente, se cree que la tumba se encuentra en las ruinas de un edificio que fue encontrado en el parque nacional de Baram. Luego de que el área fue liberada durante La Guerra de la Independencia israelí, un grupo de judíos de Safed fue a la tumba en purim de 1949 y leyó la meguilá allí para así revivir la antigua tradición de las generaciones previas. Por lo tanto, tenemos dos tradiciones conflictivas con respecto a donde están enterrados los protagonistas de la historia de Purim, cuando una dice que en Persia y la otra que aquí en Israel, mucho más cerca de casa. ¿Dónde está la tumba de Mordejai y Ester? Y mientras que no podemos determinar con certeza cuál de las dos tradiciones es la auténtica o correcta, de algo podemos estar seguros: las hazañas de estos dos héroes judíos nunca se borrarán de nuestra memoria colectiva. Como la propia meguilá nos dice (9:28): “y estos días de Purim no pasarán de entre los judíos, y sus recuerdos no se interrumpirán de entre sus descendientes”. El significado de la festividad a lo largo de las generaciones Por Rabino Eliahu Birnbaum Purim es tiempo de alabanza y agradecimiento al Kadosh Baruj Hú, por habernos liberado de la esclavitud del Rey Ajashverosh, a la redención y salvación de la reina Esther. Esto nos es importante no solo porque una vez tuvo lugar dicho acontecimiento en la capital Shushán, dado que muchas cosas le sucedieron al pueblo de Israel, y muchas desgracias pasaron a lo largo de la historia. Nosotros festejamos Purim hoy día, ahora y aquí, para demostrar la base de nuestra fe, que Hashem no deja y nunca se olvidará del pueblo de Israel. Y a pesar de que a veces nos pueda parecer que nos encontramos en una época en que el Kadosh Baruj Hú se esconde de nosotros, en la cual no hay una supervisión Divina tangible ni milagros, Ester nos recuerda cuáles son las bases de nuestra creencia: El hecho de que Hashem nunca abandonará a su pueblo, y a pesar de la barrera que la realidad presenta, por detrás se encuentra la providencia Divina – como se preguntan nuestros sabios, “¿Dónde aparece Ester en la Torá? – y yo me esconderé (Ester en hebreo quiere decir escondido)…” a lo largo de toda la historia, incluso hoy El significado de la festividad a lo largo de las generaciones día, la Shejiná, la cual salió? con nosotros al exilio, nos acompaña, sufre con nuestros sufrimientos y formula nuestra redención. La fiesta de Purim tiene por objetivo fortalecer nuestra conciencia respecto a esto y demostrarnos que a pesar de que hay dificultades, desgracias, accidentes y demás situaciones difíciles, ya hemos vivido cosas difíciles como esas, durante el reinado de Purim, y salimos de ella redimidos por la misericordia Divina. En cuanto al intento de dañar al pueblo de Israel mediante Amán y el milagro de Purim, hay un importante principio denominado “zajor” (recuerda). Debemos recordar, no solo lo que nos hizo Amalek, sino todo nuestro pasado como pueblo.
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